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Struggling with bad breath? Simple oral hygiene habits that can help
28th April, 2026 01:23 PM
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is a common issue that many people struggle with. While it might appear to be a rather insignificant matter, chronic halitosis can seriously affect self-esteem, social relationships and is in some cases a sign of serious underlying diseases.
“Many people think that the culprit of their foul breath is food, but usually, bad breath is a consequence of bacteria,” a professional dental hygienist from MSD Manual notes. The thing is that bacteria live in one’s mouth and multiply due to food residues, particularly those found in hard-to-clean places, like between one’s teeth and tongue.
One of the first and easiest tricks to tackle this problem would be to start scraping one’s tongue each day. “Your tongue contains lots of odor-causing bacteria, and if you don’t pay attention to it, the results of all your brushing will be completely undone,” the professional reveals.
Dental flossing is also another essential habit. Skipping floss allows food particles to remain trapped between teeth.”You have to floss since it cleans up the areas in one’s mouth that aren’t accessible to a toothbrush, making them vulnerable to bacteria and leading to bad breath,” he adds.
Another cause of constant bad breath is gum disease, such as Gingivitis. According to the expert, “bleeding or swollen gums may indicate an infection, which is normally accompanied by bad breath.”
Hydration is another important factor affecting bad breath. “Dry mouth provides the perfect breeding ground for bacteria,” says the expert. Drinking enough water flushes out food debris from the mouth, thus keeping it clean.
As far as diet goes, although we are all aware that eating onions or garlic might result in bad breath, unhealthy eating may worsen the condition. Fruits such as apples are known to naturally clean the teeth and increase salivation.
In summary, “good oral care is really quite simple,” says the MSD Manual. Simple yet consistent steps will keep your mouth fresh and healthy in any situation.
